Top 2027 Recruit Jalen Brewster Questions Texas Tech Commitment After Coach Departure
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The Texas Tech Red Raiders emerged as one of the surprise teams in the 2025 college football season, finishing with a record of 12-2 and securing their first College Football Playoff appearance by winning the Big 12 Championship.
The team’s success was largely due to a formidable defense. The Red Raiders ranked third in total defense, 26th in passing yards allowed, first in rushing yards allowed, and third in scoring defense. This impressive performance helped them attract one of the nation’s top defensive prospects for the 2027 recruiting class.
Five-star defensive lineman Jalen Brewster is ranked as the No. 1 player in the class. However, following the announcement that Zarnell Fitch would no longer serve as the defensive line coach in Lubbock, Brewster expressed uncertainty about his commitment.
“Nah, we don’t know who the new d-line coach is, but I have other schools that’re in the mix now,” said Brewster.
Then, he was asked if he would say he’s still solid with Tech, and he gave a short answer.
“No,” Brewster said.
NEW: Texas Tech 5-star DL commit Jalen Brewster on whether he’s solid with the Red Raiders after DL coach Zarnell Fitch’s departure, via @BenjaminGolan:
“No.”
Read: https://t.co/6axyQ6t3S6pic.twitter.com/frtts4wSQl
— Rivals (@Rivals) February 6, 2026
Brewster’s comments immediately raised alarms among fans and analysts, especially given his status as the No. 1 player in the 2027 class and Texas Tech’s recent momentum on the national stage. A defensive lineman of his caliber would be a foundational piece for a program that just rode elite defense to a Big 12 title and a playoff berth. Any hesitation from Brewster naturally sparked speculation about other programs trying to capitalize on the coaching transition.
However, those concerns have been quickly cooled. According to On3, Brewster’s family has pushed back strongly against the idea that his commitment to Texas Tech is in serious jeopardy. While they acknowledged that coaching changes naturally lead to questions, they emphasized that Brewster’s relationship with the program, the staff as a whole and the vision in Lubbock remains intact. In short, uncertainty does not equal an imminent flip.
Looking ahead, the next major domino will be Texas Tech’s hire at defensive line coach. That decision will play a key role in reinforcing confidence, not just for Brewster, but for the Red Raiders’ broader 2027 class. For now, Texas Tech appears to remain very much in the driver’s seat for one of the most important recruits in program history as it builds off its breakthrough season.
Related: 5-Star OL Named Most Overpaid College Football Player In 2026 Recruiting Class
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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